Mechanical piano.



N. n. Husum A MBGHANIGALHAM APELIUATUE FILED AFB. 19. Mim.

Patented Aug. 1,1909.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

entre sfr NELSON'D. HOSLEY, OFMERIDEN, ONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB T0 THE WILCOX ziWI-IITE COMPANY,

or itineranti,` CONNECTICUT, A coRPoRA'rIoN or coNNEctricU'r.

MECHANICAL PIANO.

Be it known that I, NELSON D. Hoster, a citizen of the United States, residing at lvleriden,` county of New Haven, State ot' Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful.v Improvements in Mechanical Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, `and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in,

automatic musical instruments and has particular reference to theaction of a horizontal grand-piano having its mechanism embodied Within the case of the instrument for sounding, the notes mechanically, said mechanism being controlled by tl'ie usual' perforated note sheet. ,f'

In an ordinary grand-piano the action is manuallyoperated by; keys. y Each key is poised on a balance rail, so-called, the front of all the keys constituting the keyboard. The rearend of each key carries suitable means for engagement with the hammer. Each'key, at the keyboard, has a certain preferable range of movement, which range is carefully determined so as to give the proper movement to the hammer mechanism.

When the piano'is to be operated` automatically, or mechanically,` it is desirable that the striker l of the mechanical action should impart the same movement to the hamner mechanism as that produced by han One of thc chief `features of my invention is to so arrange and construct the parts that the stroke of the hammer will -bc substan-l tially the same, whether actuated manually ormeehanically. It is also desirable that the automatic mechanism should -bc disposed above the keys and behind the keyboard for readyv access. It is also. desirable that when the linstrument is to be played mecfnanically,V

the outer orlekposed end of each key shall remain stationary. These and other advantages will be apparent to the mechanic skilled in the art. i.

To accomplish thevzirions objects ot my invention, I have devised what I may term a duplex key, said key constituting two parts, both of which may. besimultancousl'y operated, or one ofwhich may be operated inde-- pem'lently of the othei.` y, y

In the accoinpanyirigr drawings, I have shown only such parts of a piano action :usare necessary to an uiulcrstanding ot my invention, the parts not` shown being of any Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Allg. 31, 1909:.

Application filed April 19, 1909. Serial No. 490,717. i

suitable conventional type found in horizontalv grand-pianos- 1 In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved duplex key, showing the par-ts in the normal position.'4 Fig. 2

is a similar `view but showing the key struck by the mechanical striker when the in carrier, by 'which the hammer mechanism (not shown) is a'ctnated.

E represents a pivotal connection between the parts B and C. This pivotal connection E is located to the rear of the'balance rail A an appropriate distance, which may be varied within reasonable limits, depending upon the particular design of each key.

From the foregoing it Willbe seen that the part B, together with the part C, may tilt upon the balance rail A.

F is' a screw passing through a clearance slot or groove in the forward' end 'of the part B'. This screw F vtakes into the section C, as best seen in the drawings. The head of the screw limits the degree to which4 the part B may be tilted up at its forward end.

G represents the lower end of a striker carried by a suitable mechanical action ar ranged above the keyl'ioard and `to the rear of the front panel II of the piano case.`

n Operation: Assuming the parts are inv their normal position shown in Figi, the' manual depression of the key section C at its forward end will tilt both parts B and C upon the balance rail A to cause the hammer to be actuated, VJhcn it is desired -tc operate4 the instrument mechanically, the striker G is employed, this engagingvthc outer end of the. tilting part B of the key as shown vin Fig. Q, depressing` the latter Without moving the part C. At this time the part B tilts upon the pivot E. By this arrangement, substantially the same stroke may be given to the key section B, when actuated by the vstriker G, as when thekey sec-l tion VIi is operated manually from the forward end ot' the section C. In other Words, the center A bears approximately the same relation to the length et the entire key from the point D to the eXtreme forward end. thereot' that the centerIl bears to the length ot'the part B. By this means not only is V rgreat compactness obtainedybut it has been cured.

' engage the adjacent end of the second mentioned part to limit the tilting movement of said second part on the first, and a balance railor support for both of said parts, said "balance rail being arranged between said pivotal connection and said sto t 42. A duplex keyrfor a horizontal grand iano,said key comprising two-parts 'over-t I apping at their ends, apivotal connection 20 Y between said parts and 'arranged between the rear end of the lower part and an intermediate portion of the upper part, a stop l" carried by the lower part and arranged tov engage the adjacent end of the overlyinggf,v Y

part, to limit the tilting movement of the,`

latter on the former, 'and a balance rail vor "y support for both of said parts', said'balance rail being arranged between rsaid pivotal connection and said stop and directly sup- L30 l .porting the lower part.

NELSON D. HoSL'EY.

lVitnesses 'Y C. L. PIERCE, I L. A. KUHULE. 

